Results 1,321-1,340 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: It would be helpful if we did not rehash every single vote that has taken place at a council over the past few years, although there might be a temptation to do so. We are here to discuss the Land Development Agency Bill, which will put on a statutory footing an agency to assist those local authorities to develop and deliver public housing and cost-rental housing at scale. If there are no...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: We will move on to amendment No. 2 in the names of Deputies Barry, Boyd Barrett, Gino Kenny, Paul Murphy and Bríd Smith. Amendments Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, 7, 8, 15 to 31, inclusive, 36, 41 to 43, inclusive, 49, 79, 80, 213 and 236 to 259, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. Members should note that amendment No. 21 is a physical alternative to amendment No. 20,...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I now invite the Minister to respond.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: My apologies. Go ahead Deputy Ó Broin.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: We have run out of time. We will return to amendment No. 2 when we recommence on Thursday. The Minister has already indicated his opposition to amendments Nos. 41, 42, 43 and 213. Amendments Nos. 49, 79 and 80 are very similar. We will return to amendment No. 2 at our next meeting and proceed from there.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (25 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: My own notes indicate that the Minister did respond to amendments Nos. 41, 42 and 43 but we can return to them if necessary.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I apologise, Chairman, that my unmute button would not work. If you give me the opportunity to contribute now, I will be brief. It is directly related to insurance costs. Is that okay?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I might clarify the question a little, and I thank Mr. Bradley for his answer. I take it that would also be the answer from Mr. Connaughton. I understand that if somebody has made a claim because of an event that has occurred, such as flooding or damage, the premium may go up. That is the nature of insurance. Across the board in insurance premiums throughout the world, across everybody's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: If I could come back in on that, Mr. Bradley referred to one-in-200-year events. Flood defences are designed and constructed to anticipate one-in-100-year rain events or one-in-200-year coastal or river floods. In some areas where flood defences have been put in, people are still not in a position to get insurance. Given that all these flood defences are designed for a one-in-100-year...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I have been contacted by people who say they cannot get home insurance because of flood risk, even where flood defences have been constructed. Is Mr. Bradley saying there is no issue there then, for any insurance companies? If there are flood defences constructed by the OPW, with a one-in-100-year, a one-in-200-year or a one-in-300-year event design capability and they are signed off on,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Does AXA build in a risk factor there or does it take the flood defences as being adequate for a one-in-200-year or one-in-300-year event? Do people get charged more, even when flood defences are constructed in their area, than people who do not live in an area at flood risk?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Okay. Would that be the same in Mr. Connaughton's experience?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Okay. I thank the Chairman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: The representative from Engineers Ireland is gone. That is unfortunate, as I would have directed some of my contribution to him. In terms of the impact and the costs that insurance companies must include because of climate events, the impact that is having and the billions it has cost due to storms, flooding, roads being washed away, trees being brought down and businesses being closed, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I will be brief. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth. There has been a lot of talk about the salaries and payments required to recruit specialists. Does the Minister of State believe other factors are at play in recruiting such specialists to our NCSC?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Has the headcount been increased in recent years in the National Cyber Security Centre?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I get that it is a much more complex situation and that other organisations have their own responsibilities and roles to play. With regard to the incident response by the NCSC, does the Minister of State believe it demonstrated the required capacity in responding to attacks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State and ask him to pass on our thanks to the team and our ongoing support for what is required to continue on this cybersecurity war, as it has been referred to.